A Huge Thank You
To the Editor,
A huge thank you to the many Charlestown contributors who donated gently used clothing and shoes (photo above) to the Charlestown Catholic Collaborative’s St. Vincent de Paul “Bundle Sunday” fundraiser. Special recognition goes to the fourth grade CCD class who intentionally joined their efforts to this project. Because of everyone’s generosity, our local St Vincent de Paul Council, will be able to assist more and more Charlestown neighbors who reach out to us for help of all kinds.
With gratitude,
Peter LeCam,
President
In Her Own Words…….
To the Editor,
“The stakes are too high to preserve the status quo.” “Instead of delivering resources to address our most urgent challenges, Boston’s development process is making it worse.” “In most major cities, comprehensive master planning is an ongoing process.”
These were then Councilor Wu’s words after releasing a report Fixing Boston’s Broken Development Process, in 2019. “Why and How to Abolish the Boston Planning and Development Agency which argues that we must return assets to the City oversight, end urban renewal, empower a planning department to create a Master Plan for updated zoning, and clear consistent rules.”
Mayor Wu was inaugurated in January of 2021. Shortly after, we in Charlestown hand delivered a petition to Mayor Wu with 4000 signatures asking for a Master Plan.
We didn’t expect a complete silence with no acknowledgment of our concerns. Today, 2023, we still have not heard from Mayor Wu and why she did a complete turn around regarding her extensive diatribes on realigning the BPDA.
We were given Plan Charlestown with 108 acres being excluded from any thoughtful and necessary planning as we are only one square mile, in a critical flood zone and climate change lapping at our door. Charlestown will find itself in crisis mode as these 108 acres are being developed, with no planning and at a rapid speed which is a challenge for any logical comprehension by the residents.
The Charlestown Preservation Society, The Charlestown Neighborhood Council, Charlestown Civic Association, Bunker Hill Monument Association, our elected officials, 4000 petition signers, over 350 communications and counting are all against Plan Charlestown. Who is for Plan Charlestown?
We have been abandoned, Mayor Wu betrayed us, The BPDA ignores us. The Zoning Commission zoned us out.
“We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost’s poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road -the one less traveled by – offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.” In her own words, Rachel Carson, “The Silent Spring”.
Mayor Wu’s silence is deafening. Rachel Carson’s words written in the 60’s matter, are not silent.
We in Charlestown will take the road less traveled and we will not remain silent.
Please attend the hearing on Friday, October 27 at 10 am City Council Hearing. Oppose Plan Charlestown. Send your own words to [email protected]
Thank you,
Ann Kelleher
Cardinal Publishes Letter to the Archdiocese of Boston on Major Humanitarian and Societal Crisis
To the Editor,
Cardinal Seán O’Malley has written to pastors and the parishes of the Archdiocese regarding a growing humanitarian and societal crisis that is building in the Commonwealth and Archdiocese of Boston. The issue involves the fate of immigrants arriving daily in Massachusetts, and in need of basic shelter and compassionate care.
The Cardinal highlights the immediate challenges and growing crisis and offers guidance to parishes how they can assist in meeting essential needs of a rising immigrant population. The following is the text of the letter:
I write to you today to speak about a major humanitarian and societal crisis that is building in the State of Massachusetts and within our Archdiocese. Please take the time to review this letter with your parish staff and prepare your parishioners to be ready and willing to assist. The challenge is the fate of immigrants arriving daily in Massachusetts, and in need of basic shelter and compassionate care and welcome.
First, allow me to give a brief explanation of the crisis that we are currently facing, but which is sure to become much larger. Next, I will outline what we have done and what we are doing. Finally, I will ask for specific help, so that we can act now before the need becomes overwhelming.
I. The Situation: Presently there are 7000 families being cared for in state sponsored shelters (approximately 20,000 individuals); by October 31st the expectation is that 7500 families will be with us.
Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll have been deeply committed and determined to care for a rising immigration population, but they have also been honest in saying that the Commonwealth faces a mounting crisis beyond its capacity to respond effectively.
II. What we have done: The Archdiocese, through Catholic Charities, St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children and the Archdiocesan Planning Office for Urban Affairs has worked closely with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and with other non-profit agencies even as the flow of immigrants has increased geometrically in the last few months. All three of those agencies have expanded capacity to address both the short and long-term needs for housing and supportive services. Over these past months, we have offered the State the use of 8 of our buildings, which we hope it will be able to authorize and use. In addition, some of our parishes have already received new shelters and people into their communities as the Commonwealth has greatly expanded its shelter capacity. The Archdiocese has offered assistance to those parishes, and we will continue to offer help to any parishes and communities we are not yet aware of needing assistance. As noted above, our three Archdiocesan affiliated agencies are deeply engaged in this crisis. Our relationship with the Healey-Driscoll administration has been constant and consistent. Recently, we have partnered with our very effective Saint Vincent de Paul Society to plan for how we can prepare for the cold weather coming; most of the recently arrived families are from warmer climates.
III. How can each and every parish help: The challenge is a local one in the sense that only some of the neighborhoods and parish communities will deal with shelters in their areas; however, the challenge is for all of us as an Archdiocese. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society has the appropriate storage and ability to collect and distribute items directly to those in need. Therefore, my request is that you work with them in your parishes/collaboratives for a drive this November prior to the cold weather.
Accordingly, I am asking parishes to consider the following:
1. If you do not have a St. Vincent de Paul bin in your parish, I urge you to please contact their vendor directly, CMRK. which delivers their bins to parishes. Simply call (508) 351-9000 and ask for Patrick to schedule a delivery.
2. Announce this invitation and the reason for it to your parishioners and invite them to donate winter coats, boots, socks which will be picked up on November 18 just prior to Thanksgiving.
3. The St. Vincent de Paul Society will pick up the clothing, store it at its facility in Stoughton. and then distribution will be made to those in shelters throughout the Archdiocese.
4 In addition to winter clothing, other resources which can be donated at the same time and in the same bins include the following items: diapers. toothbrushes (adult and child size). toothpaste, soap, deodorant, mouthwash, combs, lotion. shampoo. washcloth, and Kleenex tissues.
5. Beyond these immediate actions, there may arise a time when all shelters are filled to capacity and weather conditions require immediate assistance for families in the New England winter. If this occurs offering short-term critical care and shelter in the biblical sense of “welcoming the stranger” will be the appropriate response from the Archdiocese as a whole. If you have buildings for this short-term purpose, please contact Fr. Bryan Hehir’s office at (617) 746-5738 or (617) 746-5733.
I stress that this is a crisis but is only going to expand. I offer this invitation in the spirit of Pope Francis who has asked us as Catholics to watch the “peripheries” of society where suffering is located. In our time, migrants and refugees are among the most vulnerable individuals and families in the United States. It is my hope and desire that as a Church we respond generously and effectively.
With the assurance of my prayers and gratitude for your service to the Church,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Cardinal
Sean O’Malley